The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ikunyi Owaji Ibani,
resigned from his leadership position today. The newly elected House
Speaker is Victor Adams from the Okrika constituency.
9jaupdate247 learned that Governor Nyesom Wike told Mr. Ibani to
resign his Speakership because they both could lose their seats in
power. Mr. Adams, who it is understood is unlikely to lose his assembly
seat in an appeals trial, is considered a safe choice for Mr. Wike.
It will be recalled that Mr. Wike lost his case in the Court of
Appeal which nullified his election. Since that moment Mr. Wike has
vowed to take his case to the Supreme Court to rule on the legitimacy of
his election.
The Nigerian law states that if Mr. Wike loses his case at the
Supreme Court then he will be forced to step down pending the outcome of
the mandated rerun election.
Sources speaking to SaharaReporters said that the former Speaker of
the House, Mr. Ibani, could lose his case at the Court of Appeal and be
sacked from office. Mr. Ibani stepping down from his Speakership allows
Mr. Wike to control the State using his stooge Mr. Adams in the event he
loses his Supreme Court case.
Mr. Adams is a former militant and received amnesty under the
Presidential Amnesty Programme. Formerly, Mr. Adams was a member of Tom
Ateke’s militant group. A press release addressing this matter said that “the House of
Assembly under PDP remains one big happy family with the foresight to
make wise decisions.”
